Hashing in Korea: Now You Know What That Chalk on the Ground is About...

By: TheYeogiyo.com | Nov. 12, 2008

If you know any of those gorgeous and talented geniuses behind the maroon shade of TheYeogiyo.com, you know that by all means, we can be rather pushy about experiencing things in Korea. We do indeed have a list of favourites on the to-do list during your stay here, but a suggestion that comes up on a regular basis to old and new alike on this lovely peninsula is to partake of an activity that is not necessarily Korean – hashing.

Surely quite a few of you just choked on your afternoon breakfast at the thought of hashing, but sadly, for some, and more legally for others, we’re not referring to drugs. The easiest definition of hashing, and the one that comes up at the bar most on a Saturday night is, ‘it’s a run, or a walk, that’s non-competitive. You meet at random places around Korea,  you follow the chalk on the ground to see where to go next, you finish, you drink beer, you sing songs.’ Then we always follow up with a, ‘it’s very British’ because for some reason that makes it better to visualize singing songs with a bunch of dudes in your sweatpants.  

A longer explanation is this – back in 1938, the Hash House Harriers began after some British colonial officers and expatriates living in Kuala Lumpur played a game similar to a traditional British game in which people chased after a paper trail to catch each other. After meeting for a few months they realized they needed to register with a name, and the Hash House Harriers – a ‘drinking club with a running problem’ was born.

The Constitution of the Hash House Harriers is recorded on a club registration card dated 1950:

- To promote physical fitness among our members
- To get rid of weekend hangovers
- To acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer
- To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel

The men continued hashing after World War II and the club only grew until 1962 when a second ‘kennel’ began in Singapore. In the ‘70’s the club became more popular (what didn’t, really?) and now, whether you know it or not, with about two thousand groups around the world and 300 or so in the States alone, there’s likely a group that runs in your own area back home (even Antarctica has two kennels).

In Korea, the hash began in 1972 and you can join any of the dozen or so groups that meet weekly or once a month (such as the PMS Hashers, a group just for the ladies) around the peninsula, or start your own in your area.

Here’s how it works:

- Get in touch with one of the organizers (“GM” or “GF”) listed below. They’ll tell you where to meet.
- Wear something comfortable – either what you usually wear when you run, or something comfortable to walk in. Occasionally the trail will go through forest, so you might be so inclined as to wear long socks to cover bare legs if you don’t want to get scratchy.
- Be on time for the hash so you can hear the beginning of the event, in which someone will explain the chalk lines you’ll see on the ground (arrows to follow, including the trick marks intended to get you lost...all in good fun, of course.)
- Take off with the group and have a good run – trails might be short – about 3 miles/5 km - or, if some of the more infamous hashers are haring (setting the trail) you can expect a sweaty mess of 5 miles or 8 km. Don’t worry – it’s not as bad as it seems once you’re out there.
- End the run and pay your fee (usually about W5,000), which includes snacks, water or other non-alcoholic beverages or beer.
- Enjoy the ‘down-down’ - the part of the hash in which jokes are made, songs are sung and you’re invited to make a fool of yourself or others.
- Collect patches for your ‘happy coat,’ go on road trips, get a ‘hash name’ after six runs, learn the songs and consider hashing when you travel outside of the RoK.

It sounds relatively basic, but joining the hash in Korea is an incredible way to meet a really friendly, diverse and welcoming group of people who will become your second family here. It’s definitely a good way to meet people outside of your coworkers, or outside of your comfortable social group (the hash is made up of everyone from military to teachers to locals to that old guy who you avoid at the bar).

Here’s what you should know:

- This isn’t a competitive group in the least. Though some people involved in the hash are serious runners, they won’t be on the day of the event. It’s only for fun, and if you take it too seriously, you’ll be called out on your inability to relax, so...relax.
- Don’t bring your iPod – you’ll have more fun chatting with the people you’re with, and it’s nice to be able to hear people yell ‘R U?’ (meaning, ‘are you on trail, ‘cuz I’m kind of lost here...’)
If you just want to walk – walk! Some of the most steadfast hashers are walkers – there’s no shame in not wanting to run.
- The hash is a really decent way to see something new in your area – back alleys, mountain trails, markets, running paths you didn’t know existed...
- You absolutely don’t have to be in shape to join the hash – but it’s a good place to start, fattie.
- Just like your mom used to say, you don’t have to drink beer to have a good time. Though, after you meet some of these fools, you might find it helps.
- Don’t be intimidated – the hashes in Korea are made up of a wide variety of people: straight or gay, boy or girl, stunningly good looking to kind of homely, rich and (mostly) poor, athletes and couch potatoes.
- Go with that hangover (you have no idea how much a walk or run with other hungover people helps) or use the hash as an excuse to not do the same thing you’ve done for the past twenty Saturdays so you can be there on time on Sunday.
- Go by yourself if you can’t find someone to join you. C’mon, you’re a big boy. Or girl who looks like a boy.
- This is a good group of people – from time to time you’ll have the chance to get involved in fundraising for charities or special events and road trips.
- Be a good person – share, help others, be generous, drop your attitude (and possibly your pants) and you’ll love and be loved. It doesn’t hurt to know a dirty joke or two as well.

In Korea, check out the following kennels or visit Go to The Hash
(http://gotothehash.net/korea.html ):

Seoul H3
Location: Seoul
Website: http://www.seoulhash.org
E-mail contact: tomcoyner@gmail.com
Date and time: Every Saturday 4 p .m.
Note: Men only

Southside H3
Location: Seoul – locations south of the Han River
Website: http://southsideh3.gotothehash.net/
E-mail contact: smcrae77@yahoo.com
Date and time: Every Sunday, 11 a.m.
Note: Men and women

Seoul Full Moon H3
Location: Seoul
Website:  http://gotothehash.net/korea/sfmh3.html
E-mail contact: dodicmaster@yahoo.com
Date and time: Monthly, Friday closest to the full moon, 7p.m.
Note: Men and women

Yongsan Kimchi H3
Location: Seoul
Website: http://groups.google.com/group/ykhhh  
E-mail contact: rsdjr@hotmail.com, talur@burgweenies.com
Date and time: Weekly, most US holidays – Saturday at 10 a.m.
Note: Men and women

Seoul Team Delta H3
Location: Seoul
Website: http://www.gotothehash.net/korea/stdh3.html  
E-mail contact: dodicmaster@yahoo.com
Date and time: Third Friday of the month, 7 p.m.
Note: Men and women

38th Parallel H3
Location: Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi province
E-mail contact: dodicmaster@yahoo.com
Date and time: On combined US and Korean holidays only, near the DMZ

Osan Bulgogi H3
Location: Songtan, Gyeonggi province
Website: http://groups.google.com/group/OBHHH   
E-mail contact: autotrack69@yahoo.com
Date and time: Weekly, Saturday at 4 p.m.
Note: Men and women

Jeonju H3
Location: Jeonju, Jeollabuk province
Website: http://jeonju.rightinfront.com  
E-mail contact: info@jeonju.rightinfront.com
Date and time: Bi-weekly, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Note: Men and women, family-friendly

Seoul PMS H3
Location: Seoul – locations south of the Han River
Website: http://www.myspace.com/seoul_pms_h3
E-mail contact: msthanx4nothin@gmail.com
Date and time: Once a month, Saturday at 4 p.m.
Note: Women only

Humphreys Hangover H3 (Camp Humphreys)
Location: Anjung, Gyeonggi province
E-mail contact: drphilh5@gmail.com
Date and time: Bi-weekly, Saturdays, 3 p.m.
Note: Men and women
 
Mipo H3
Location: Ulsan, Gyongsangnam province
Website:  http://gotothehash.net/korea/mh3.html
E-mail contact: errolhunter@yahoo.com
Date and time: Monthly, Saturday
Note: Men and women, adults-only

Ulsan H3
Location: Ulsan, Gyongsangnam province
Website: http://ulsanhash.blogspot.com/
E-mail contact: errolhunter@yahoo.com
Date and time: Bi-weekly, Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Note: Men and women

Busan H3
Location: Busan, Gyongsangnam province
Website: http://gotothehash.net/korea/bh3.html
E-mail contact: kare.sande@ka-group.com or Oddvar.Deinboll@dnv.com
Date and time: Bi-weekly, Sunday at 11 a.m.
Note: Men and women, family-friendly

Geoje H3
Location: Geoje-do, Gyongsangnam province
Website:  http://geojehash.blogspot.com/
E-mail contact: dnajta@gmail.com
Date and time: Bi-weekly, Sunday at 11 a.m.
Note: Men and women